London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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City of Westminster 1934

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]

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31
Treatment was continued on the lines indicated in previous reports.
The preliminary Schick test was only done on older children or for
some special reason in particular cases. Treatment given and the
results of the tests are shown in the following table. Positive reactors
were given preventive treatment.

Table XXXIII.

Positive.Negative.Treated without test.Total.
Under 5 years02183185
5 to 10 years024951
10 to 15 years56213
510234249

Treatment was carried out without difficulty and with satisfactory
results. Only a very small number failed to complete the treatment.
Over 12 per cent. who presented themselves for treatment had not
been vaccinated against smallpox,
108 re-tests or tests after treatment were performed. 97 gave a
negative result six months or more after preventive treatment. Two
were still positive and received further treatment. Two did not
attend for reading the result of the re-test. One second re-test after
an additional course of treatment showed that the patient was now
negative. Two cases, negative four and five years previously, were
re-tested at the parent's request and were still negative. Two
negative cases, where the result was ascribed to temporary immunity
following the administration of adult human serum, gave positive
results when re-tested later, the temporary immunity having passed off.
All these results are in conformity with the theory of the treatment.
Antitoxin, for use in cases of diphtheria, is provided free of charge
for medical practitioners attending patients residing in the City. The
supply is available on application at the City Hall and at the Coroner's
Court in Horseferry Road. It is apparent from the small amount
used (12 bulbs, each containing 8,000 units) that practitioners prefer
to send their patients at once into the fever hospitals, where antitoxin
is administered on admission to all cases of clinical diphtheria.